Light-projecting attachment for shoes



Aug. si ,-1926, L59723 s. RANDoLPH LIGHT PROJECTING TTACHMENT FOR SHOES Filed April 4,` 192s H ETLL.

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UNITED `STATES SIMON RANDOLPH, 0F LYNCH, KENTUCKY.

LIGHT-PROJECTING .ATTACHMENT FOR SOES.

Application mea Aprnhi, 1925. serial No. 20,732.

The present invention relates in general to shoes, and more specifically to novel illuminating means incorporated in the heel structure of shoes..

The primary object of the'invention being to provide a light projecting attachment for shoes, whereby the light rays from the illuminating means may be directed to effectively illuminate'the adjacent surface upon which a person is walking.

A further object of the invention is the incorporation within. the heel structure of:y

shoes, an illuminating means of the self containing type, and which is so disposed as to prevent direct light rays from the illuminating means striking the eyes of the person wearing the device. j

A still further object resides in the novel construction of the device which permits yof easy attachment, ready detachment for replacing of parts, and compactness of parts which permits of the heel structure being of ordinary configuration.

Otler objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing,

' Figure l is a fragmentary side view of a shoe, and showing the improved illuminating device applied thereto, the illuminating device and its adjacent shoe portion being shown in central vertical sectlon.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 Vof Fig-y ure 1, and looking downwardly.4

Figure 3 is aM slightly. reduced top plan view of the device shown detached from the shoe; and,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the heel portion of a shoe and showing .the attaching means for the illuminatingy devlce. I

Referring to the drawing in deta1l, wherebut the preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein'similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates a shoe of ordinary construction, including an upperB; a sole portion C, and a lift D, said liftfbeing rigidly secured to the rear portion ofthe sole portion C and forming a fixed upper heel section `for detachably receiving the vimproved heel structure designated as a whole by the letter E. The heel structure E which forms the lower lift for the heel of the shoe comprises a major heel ,section F; a self-contained illuminating ineans Q, and a switch mechanism H.

The major heel section F, which may be formed of any suitable material such as rubber, leather, or a composite material, preferably has embedded in the upper surface thereof, a plurality of stud members 5 having enlarged head portions thereof projecting past the upper 'surface of the. section .for engaging in a plurality of similarly arranged yieldable sockets 6 embedded in the lower surface of the upperlift section D. rIfhese stud members 5 and yieldable sockets 6 provide means for permitting` of ready and easy attaching and detaching of the major heel section from the upper lift section D, thus permitting of ready replacing of parts, and allowing yfor interchanging of the'heel structure E should it become desirable to merely attach the light projecting heel structure when travelling at night or.' when passing through dark passageways. Formed in the heel section F, and extendingfrom the .front wall 7 to the rear arcuate wall 8, is a 4pocket of special configuration formed with -the pocket portion 9 preferably flares outwardly as at 12, and terminates adjacent the marginal edges of the ,front face 7. This pocket maybe formed in the heel in any desired manner, either during moulding of the heel.; should the same be of rubber, or during construction thereof should the heel be formed of a plurality of leather lifts.

Fitting in the pocket formed in the heel section F, and conforming to the configuration of the pocket, is a metal lining 13 formed at its rear end with a switch housing 14 adapted to fit in the reduced pocket portion l0 with its rear wall 15 closing the rear en`d` of the pocket` and/conforming to the curvature of the rear heel wall 8. Fitting in the flaring i portion`16 ofthe lining 13x and in electrical contact therewith, is a metal reflector 17 provided atfis axial center with a threaded socket portion 18 adapted for threaded reception of an ordinary electric lamp 19 of the shell and central contact type A lens 20 is disposed at the forward edge of the reflector 17 and may bev held in position as by bending the forward ends of the lining 13 about the edges of the lens as at 21.

A ,battery 22 of ordinary construction, being enclosed by a layer of insulating` ma; terial 23, and provided atone end thereof with the usual spring contact arm 24, is adapted to be positioned in theinterme'diate pocket portion 9 with the contact arm 24 thereof in electrical contact with the central contact of the lamp 19. When in position in' the pocket, it will be seen that .the

shoulders 11 will limit rearward movement of the battery within the pocket.

Referring now to the switch mechanism H for completing the circuit through the lamp 19, the same embodies in part, a

semi-circular shaped spring contact arm'25 having one end thereof rigidly secured to the bottom wall of the shell of positive terminal of the battery 22 and extending rearwardly into the switch housing 14. Se-

cured to one side of the metal housing 14, is.

a spring switch arm 26 adapted to have its -free end portion moved into contact with the rear end of the contact arm 25 upon sliding movement of a button 27 mounted in a slot in the rear housing wall 15, and havingthe head thereof extending* outwardly of the housing for permitting Vof ready manipulationv thereof. Y

It will readily be seen that upon closing` of the circuit `between the contacts 25 and 26, that a circuit will be completed through the metal lining 1 3 to the shell of the elec"A tric lamp 19 for lighting the lamp.

Any suitable means such as cement or suitable fastening elements may be employed for securing the illuminating means within the heel F; and if desirable the channel section 28 disposed at the upper edge of the lens 20 may be capable of being slid transversely of the lining 13 for per-Y parts when such' apart contact arms disposed inwar contact arm. f

and described, without departing from the."

spirit of the invention or the scope of the .p

following claims.

I claim 1 1. In combination with a shoe including a heel section formed with an opening extending lngitudinally" of the shoe and opening at the lfront and rear walls of the heel, a lining disposed in said opening and includin a rear wall for closing the opening at te rear of the heel, a self-contained electrically operated illuminating means disposed inwardly of the lining ina manner whereby the light vrays therefrom will project from the openin atthe front of the heel, normall `spaced y of the rear wall ofthe lining, and means carried by the rear wall of the lining for moving th' contact arms into en agement with one .another for completing tie circuit througlr the illuminating means.

2. In combination with a shoe including a heel section formed with a pocket flaring outwardly at the front wall of the heel; a. self-contained electrically operated illuminating means disposed in said pocket, a reflector disposed at the flaring portion of the pocket for directing the light rays forwardly of the heel, a lens at the front of said reflector, and switch means for controlling the circuit through the illuminating means. v`

,3. In combination with a shoe including a heel section formed with an opening extending lon itudinally of the shoe and opening at t e front and rear walls of the heel, a metal` lining for said opening having an end wall for closing the opening at the rear of the heel, a battery fitting in said lining and having spring contact arms'of.

unlike poles projecting from opposite ends thereof and with the arm at the forward end thereof in engagement with .the central Acontact of an electric lamp, a metal reflector having a threaded socket for receptionJ of the base of the lamp, in contact with the metal lining, a lens positioned at the`front of the reflector, a switch arm-secured at one end to the metal lining and havingits free end portion in close proximity to the rear contact arm of the battery," and 'means carried by the rear wall of the lining ,for

moving the free end of the switch arm into.

circuit completing relation With said rear 4. A heel structure adapted for detachableconnection with a shoe, comprising "a body' ortion formed withl a longitudinally A ilsefgees mem'. of the batte a, spring contact erm Erojectin 4 rom-: e forward end of' the eer/ery or engagin one .terminal of an electric lamp, a, re ector disposedl about 5 said lamp for kdirecting the lgfht rays therefrom orwarily of the heel structure, a lens disposed et the forward end of the reflector, J

and, switch means ispose in the opening rearwardl of the shoulders for completing e circuit :i1-om the opposite ole of the batw ex'y to the oppositetermina of the eectrio amp'.- l

SIMON RANDOLPH., 

